header-logo header-logo

16 August 2019
Categories: Features , Brexit , EU , Constitutional law
printer mail-detail

All Out War (Pt 4): The mad riddle of Brexit

Is it time to turn to thoughts of treason?

On 3 July, the private prosecution against Boris Johnson by the crowdfunding campaigner Marcus Ball for misconduct in public office, on the basis that he repeatedly lied and misled the British public as to the cost of EU membership, expressly stating, endorsing or inferring that the cost of EU membership was £350m per week, was quashed (Johnson v Westminster Magistrates' Court [2019] EWHC 1709 (Admin), [2019] All ER (D) 10 (Jul)).

On 14 August the High Court refused permission to appeal to the Supreme Court and refused to certify that the case raised a point of law of general public importance. Ball could still seek permission direct from the Supreme Court but even if he were to be successful it seems unlikely that the final appeal would be heard before 31 October 2019. 

The quashed judgment of District Judge Coleman dated 29 May 2019 cites a note prepared by Johnson's legal team summarising his position.

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Clarke Willmott—Megan Bradbury

Clarke Willmott—Megan Bradbury

Corporate team welcomes paralegal in Southampton

Howard Kennedy—Paul Moran

Howard Kennedy—Paul Moran

London firm strengthens real estate team with partner appointment

Cripps—Radius Law

Cripps—Radius Law

Commercial and technology practice boosted by team hire

NEWS
Pathfinder courts—renamed ‘Child focused courts’—are to be rolled out nationally, following a successful pilot where backlogs halved and cases were resolved up to seven and a half months faster
The Court of Appeal has unanimously dismissed a £385,000 costs order against a father, in a case that centred on what is required to meet the threshold of ‘reprehensible or unreasonable’ behaviour
Centuries-old burial laws would be overhauled, under Law Commission proposals to address the burgeoning problem of shortage of cemetery space
The government has committed an extra £32m to women’s charities and services tackling addiction, trauma, abuse and homelessness
The Financial Ombudsman is poised for major reform to return it to a simple, impartial dispute resolution service
back-to-top-scroll